"I have been in an open conflict with Minister [Miroslav] Lajčák for almost a year," Rastislav Mojto told the Sme daily after he withdrew from his post of deputy ambassador at Slovakia's Embassy in Budapest as of the end of 2017.

Mojto, who has subsequently decided to leave the diplomatic service following his withdrawal from Budapest, believes he was removed from the post due to his critical statements of the ministry and its policies. Most recently, he complained on social networks that Parliament's Speaker, Andrej Danko, refused to be accompanied by him during his official visit to Hungary, Sme reported.

The ministry argues that Mojto was removed from the post due to "current personnel needs of the department" and it is common practice that diplomats are recalled without other reasons.

Mojto, a dipomat with 14 years of experience, however, decided to leave the department and the diplomatic service.

"This way I symbolically continue what Zuzana Hlávková started and make it clear that it is not just the youngest generation criticising the ministry," Mojto told Sme. Hlávková is a former ministry staffer who two years ago blew the whistle on the ministry over overpriced orders related to the Slovak EU Council Presidency.

Mojto claims that the ministry is preparing a new directive for its staffers to prevent them from publishing their opinions on social networks. Peter Susko from the Foreign Ministry confirmed they are currently analysing social networks to make sure the social media communication is in line with the law on state service, Sme reported.